Drinks for Memorial Day Weekend

Planning a Memorial Day barbecue or picnic? Don't forget the beverages! If the weather's kind, you'll want to stock up on beer and stir up some punch or sangria to offer your thirsty guests (or your hosts). And don't forget the non-alcoholic options. Here are a few recommendations to get you inspired for the long weekend.

Sangria

Crisp white sangria is a classic warm-day refresher, but this sauvignon blanc based version is unusually delicious with the addition of a little herbal gin and orange bitters. Starfruit make for a festive garnish. Get the recipe »

We also love this fresh and fruity apple sangria based on a recipe from Diana Barrios Treviño. The secret ingredient is half a cup of applesauce added to a mixture of fresh orange and lime juice and a few cups of decent red wine. Get the recipe »

Punch and Other Big-Batch Cocktails

This Negroni-inspired punch is refreshingly bittersweet. It's made with Aperol, gin, and loads of citrus juice, and lightened with a bottle of sparkling wine. (No need to use anything fancy; there are loads of flavors going on in this drink!) Get the recipe »

Hibiscus tea gives this rum cooler a bright, tart flavor, with the help of lots of fresh lemon juice. It's light in alcohol and plenty thirst-quenching. Get the recipe »

The Pimm's Cup is easy to make by the pitcherful, and fun to deck out with loads of cucumbers, apple, lemon, orange, and strawberries. We like it diluted with Sprite or 7-Up, though you can also use ginger ale. Get the recipe »

Ripe cantaloupe makes a deliciously fruity but not-too-sweet melon margarita, cut with plenty of fresh lime juice. You can blend these up a few hours in advance, but don't be surprised if you find yourself stealing sips of the chilled mixture out of the fridge. Get the recipe »

Beer

Wondering what brews go best with your Memorial Day menu? Never fear, our certified Cicerone here with the following guides:

Wine

When there's a group involved, we're happy to be stocked up with our favorite affordable wines. (Call us cheap, but it doesn't seem like the right time to pop open pricey bottles we've been saving.) Here are our recommendations for the best white wines under $15, and here are our top picks in budget reds.

Already decided what food you're serving? Here are a few tips for choosing wine to go with it:

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